Michael Maier

“The first commendment of hte post 1970s meritocracy can be sumed up as follows: "Thou shall provide equality of opportunity to all, regardless of race, gender, or sexual oritentation, but worry not about equality of outcomes." But what we've seen time and time again is that the two aren't so neatly separated. If you don't concern yourself at all with equality fo outcomes, you will, over time, produce a system with horrendous inequality of opportunity. This is the paradox of meritocracy: It can only truly come to flower in a society that starts out with a relatively high degree of equality. So if you want meritocracy, work for equality. Because it is only in a society which values equality of actual outcomes, one that promotes the commonweal and social solidarity, that equal opportunity and earned mobility can flourish.”
― Christopher Hayes, Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy

“People who live life in fear of taking risks die without living it.”
― Fola, The Seed

“All life's a risk, that's what makes it interesting.”
― Megan Chance, The Spiritualist

“You touch some of the reasons for my going, not for my staying away.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities